Container



D. W. DAVIS.

CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22, 1911.

1,306,408., Patented June 10, 1919.

.vr NORRIS r-srEns ca" Puma-mo m wmu mm a c DECATUR W. DAVIS, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

CONTAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J nne 10, 1919.

Application filed September 22, 1917. Serial No. 192,741.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DECATUR W. DAvrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements :in Containers, of which the following. is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved case or container for the packing and transportation of eggs and like frangible or easily breakable commodities, and has for its primaryobject to providea device of this character which issimple and inexpensive in its construction, as well as serviceable and efficient for the purpose in view.

It is another and more particular object of 1 the invention to provide a metallic case having a central, removable partition separating two series of superposed fillers from each other, and means on the bottom of the case for yieldably supporting the fillers in spaced relation to the case bottom.

It is also an additional object of the invention to provide a case construction which is exceedingly strong and durable and a top or cover therefor having hinged hasps at its opposite ends, and means for locking the hasps to the end walls of the case.

It is also one of the detailobjects of the invention to provide an improved construction of the egg fillers consisting of a plurality of intersecting, interlocked, cardboard strips, and means for easilyand quickly detachably, though securely, connecting the terminals of the strips to one of the outer strips.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an egg case constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, the top or cover of the case being removed;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing the means for fastening the cover to the end walls of the case body;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the intersecting filler strips;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the terminal end of one of the filler strips;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspectiveview illustrating the terminals of the strip locked to the adjacent filler strips;

F ig..7 is a perspective view of one of the separators.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the removable artition.

Re erring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the body of the case which consists of bottom, side, and end walls, said case being preferably constructed of sheet metal. Metal strips or runners 6 are secured to the bottom wall of the case body to reinforce the same, and suitable handles indicated at 7 are secured to the end walls of the case, whereby it may be conveniently carried from place to place.

Transversely extending, resilient metal strips 8 extend within the case body in spaced relation to the bottom wall thereof and are suitably fixed at their terminals to said bottom wall. .9 designates a metal partition plate which is provided upon each end with the oppositely extending flanges 10. These flanges fri'ctionally engage against the imier faces of the side walls of the case body.

Each of the fillers, in which the eggs are placed and separated fromeach other to prevent contact of the same and possible breakage, consists of a plurality of intersecting, cardboard strips 11, the strips extending in one direction having slots 12 cut inwardly from one of their longitudinal edges, and the strips which extend in the opposite direction having similar slots 13 cut inwardly from their relatively opposite longitudinal edges. These strips are assembled in the usual manner so that the slots inyone series of strips will receive a strip in the other series. The outermost cardboard strips are provided with spaced slots 14 which terminate in spaced relation to the opposite longitudinal edges of the strips, and each strip with the exception of two of the outer strips which extend. in the same direction, is provided with a terminal lug or head 15 connected to the body of the strip by a narrow neck 16 which provides recesses or slots extending inwardly from the opposite edges of the strip. One of these recesses has an inclined inner edge 17, said recess gradually increasing in width to the longitudinal edge of the strip. It is to be noted that the neck portions 16 of the strips are of appreciably less width than the length of the slots lt. The extensions or lugs 15 are tapered at their opposite ends, as shown at 15, so that by placing the strip at an angle to the oppositely extending strip having the slot 1% therein, the lug or extension 15 may be readily engaged through said slot, thus look ing the strips together as seen in Fig. 5.

The fillers constructed in the manner above described are successivelv placed within the case 5 on opposite sides of the partition 9, and after each filler has been filled with eggs, a separating sheet of cardboard 18 is arranged over the filler and the eggs contained therein, said sheet preferably having finger openings 19 so that it may be readily removed. When the case has been completely filled, the top or cover 20 is placed thereon, said cover having marginal'flanges fitting eXteriorily over the case walls. Hinged hasps 21 are secured to the opposite ends of said cover and provided with slots 22 to receive the heads of the finger lugs 23 which are rotatably mounted upon the end walls of the case. After the heads of said lugs have been engaged through the slots, the lugs are turned to dispose the heads at right angles to the slots 22, thereby holding the hasps against swinging movement. The hasps are further provided with additional spaced slots 2 1 to -receive the staples or lugs 25 fixed to the end wall of the case. These staples are adapted to receive the shackle of a suitable padlock. Thus, the cover is securely locked in place so that access cannot be had. to the contents of the case.

Preferably, a plurality of spaced, ver tical, metal strips 26 are secured to the inner face of each end wall of the case body to further strengthen and reinforce the case.

' From-the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of use and several advantages of my invention will be clearly and fully understood. It will be seen that by the provision of the spring strips 8, the eggs and fillers will be resiliently supported so that sudden jar or shock to the case in handling the same will not be likely to result in a breakage of theeggs.

Thus, eggs in large quantities may be safely transported from place to place. The case may, of course, be made in any suitable dimensions and the capacity thereof increased or diminished as desired; The case is also very strong and durable in its construction and consists of relatively few parts so that it can be manufactured at small cost.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several elements of my invention, it 7 of the case body and in parallel relation thereto and permanently secured at their terminals to said wall, said strips constituting resilient supporting means for the contents of the case, and a vertically movable partition disposed upon one of said resilient supporting strips and having means frictionally contacting with the opposite side walls of the case body. 7

2. A case of the: character described comprising a case body, a vertically movable partition for the case-havinga pair of laterally projecting lugs formed on each end 7 thereof and projecting, in relatively opposite directions for frictional engagement with the opposite side walls of the case body,

and a transverse cushioning, strip secured to the bottom wall of the case: body and yieldingly cushioning the vertical movement of said partition wall.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. DECATUR W. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

VAL'I'ER O.. SnNsBAoH, EDWARD F. ExNnR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

